Below is an article published by Asthma UK to help athsma suffers manage their symptoms and stay healthy during the winter months
Lots of people find their asthma symptoms get worse over winter because there are more triggers around at this time of year – including chilly weather, colds, mould and chest infections. So, if you’re coughing more, or your chest is tighter at the moment, you’re not alone.
Act now to stay well throughout winter and avoid missing work, family life, festive season parties, or even Christmas Day.
If you’ve got asthma, your airways are sensitive and irritable. They react to triggers like cold air by tightening up and making it hard to breathe.
Using your preventer inhaler as prescribed soothes your airways over time, so they’re less sensitive. That means they’re less likely to react to any of your winter asthma triggers – so you can get on with life.
Find it hard to remember? “Set a phone reminder, or try putting your preventer inhaler somewhere you’ll see it, like your bedside table,” says Caroline. Read our blog for more help remembering your medicines.
Always carry your reliever inhaler (usually blue) with you in case you need it in an emergency.
Take it if you get sudden symptoms because your airways have tightened up in reaction to a trigger.
Your reliever inhaler quickly opens up your airways, relaxing them so you can breathe more easily again within minutes.
But it’s only an emergency fix. It doesn’t stop your airways being so sensitive that they react to the triggers in the first place – you need to take your preventer inhaler regularly as prescribed for that.
Top tip: keep your reliever inhaler with your keys, ready to pick up when you leave the house.
Your airways are swelling up and you’re at risk of an asthma attack. Get an urgent appointment with your doctor/nurse.
Important: Keep using your reliever if you need it.
